Remote Interview Tips to Help You Get Hired
By Mark Fiebert Key Takeaways - Own the Setup: A strong remote interview starts before the first question, with research, technical preparation, a clean background, and a professional on-camera presence. - Reduce Friction: Test your platform, sound, lighting, and internet in advance so avoidable problems do not distract from your qualifications and confidence. - Look Ready: Your location, camera angle, posture, and clothing all influence first impressions and can reinforce that you take the opportunity seriously. - Communicate Clearly: Remote interviews reward concise answers, deliberate pacing, strong listening skills, and calm handling of pauses, lag, or unexpected interruptions. - Plan for Problems: Candidates who prepare backup options, notes, and a follow-up strategy are better positioned to recover quickly and leave a stronger impression. How to Prepare for a Remote Interview With Confidence Preparing for a job interview can feel stressful under any circumstances, but a remote interview adds a layer of pressure that many candidates underestimate. You are not just answering questions about your background. You are also managing your technology, your environment, and how you come across on a screen. Instead of walking into an office with copies of your resume in hand, you are inviting interviewers into your space and asking them to judge your professionalism from a distance. That changes the stakes. Small details matter more than most candidates realize. Weak lighting, a noisy room, poor eye contact, or a dropped connection can distract from strong answers. The good news is that remote interviews are highly coachable. When you prepare with intention, you can remove distractions, present yourself more confidently, and keep the focus where it belongs: on your experience, judgment, and fit for the role. The tips below go beyond the obvious. They will help you prepare your message, your space, and your backup plan so you can handle a remote interview like someone who is ready for the job. Research the Company, the Role, and the Interview Format Certain aspects of job interview preparation never change. You still need to understand the company, the role, and how your background connects to both. Study the job posting closely, review the company’s website, and look for recent announcements, product updates, leadership messages, or changes in direction that could shape the conversation. The more specific your examples, the more credible you sound. It also helps to learn as much as you can about your interviewers. Knowing their roles can help you anticipate what each person is likely to care about. A hiring manager may focus on results and judgment. A teammate may care more about collaboration and communication. A recruiter may be listening for clarity, enthusiasm, and alignment with the role. Create a concise cheat sheet you can glance at during the interview. Include a short summary of the company, the top requirements for the role, two or three accomplishments you want to mention, and a few thoughtful questions. Keep the notes brief. You want prompts, not a script. Choose a Space That Supports the Conversation Once you’ve prepared yourself for the interview, prepare the space just as carefully. Whether the conversation is by phone or video, your setting should help you sound focused and look organized. A dedicated office is ideal, but it is not required. A quiet corner with a clean table, stable chair, and limited background clutter can work just as well. Think beyond silence. Consider whether other people in the house may interrupt, whether pets could become a distraction, and whether street noise, appliances, or echo might affect the sound. Let anyone nearby know that you need uninterrupted time. Silence your phone, computer notifications, smartwatch alerts, and anything else that can break your concentration. Good location choices communicate professionalism without saying a word. Poor choices force the interviewer to work harder to focus on you. That is a bad trade. Audit the Background and Camera Framing After choosing the location, turn on your webcam and assess the room from the interviewer’s point of view. Check the background and remove anything distracting, messy, or overly personal. A simple, tidy background is usually best. You do not need an elaborate setup. You need a setting that looks intentional. Camera position matters too. Raise the camera to eye level if possible. Looking down into a laptop from a low angle is rarely flattering and can make you appear disengaged. Frame yourself so your head and upper torso are visible, with a bit of space above your head. That gives the interviewer a clearer view of your facial expression and body language without making the image feel cramped. Virtual backgrounds can be tempting, but they are not always the best choice. If your system blurs or distorts around your shoulders, hands, or hair, it can become distracting. Use one only if your real background cannot be controlled. In most cases, a clean wall, bookshelf, or orderly workspace is stronger and more believable. Test Your Technology Before Interview Day Technical problems are among the fastest ways to create unnecessary stress during a remote interview. Test your microphone, webcam, headphones, and internet connection ahead of time. Make sure the platform works on the device you plan to use and that your browser or app has the correct permissions. Do not wait until five minutes before the meeting to discover that your camera is blocked or your audio input is wrong. Check the basics, but also go further. Test the actual meeting link if you can. Practice with a friend. Confirm that your display name is professional. Review your lighting at the same time of day as the interview so you know what the room will look like when it matters. Poor sound or choppy video can make you seem unprepared, even when the problem is not your fault. Have a backup plan. Keep your phone nearby, charged, and ready in case the call drops or your computer fails. Know how to reconnect quickly. If something goes wrong, calm recovery often matters more than perfection. Employers understand that technology can fail. What they notice is whether you handle it like a professional. Dress, Timing, and On-Screen Presence Still Count A remote interview may feel less formal than an in-person meeting, but it is still your chance to make a first impression. Dress for the role and the company culture, not for your living room. Choose clothing that looks clean, fits well, and does not distract on camera. Solid colors usually work better than busy patterns. Even if only your upper half is visible, wear the full outfit. It changes how you carry yourself, and it protects you from an awkward moment if you need to stand up unexpectedly. Be ready early. Logging in ten to fifteen minutes before the scheduled time gives you room to settle in, review your notes, and fix any last-minute issues. Open only what you need. Close unnecessary tabs and applications so your system runs smoothly and your attention stays where it should. When the interview begins, look into the webcam regularly to create the impression of eye contact, but do not stare unnaturally. Sit upright, keep your energy steady, and resist the urge to fidget or constantly look at yourself on screen. Remote conversations can feel slightly delayed, so pause briefly before answering and avoid talking over the interviewer. Clear, measured answers almost always land better than rushed ones. Answer With Clarity and Prepare for What Can Go Wrong Just because you are not in the room does not mean your presence matters less. In fact, the screen can magnify hesitation, rambling, or weak listening. Be deliberate about how you communicate. Keep your answers focused. Use examples that show results, judgment, and relevance to the role. If you need a moment to think, take it. A short pause sounds thoughtful. A rushed answer often sounds unprepared. Remote interviews also require more self-management. If the interviewer is late, stay composed and wait a reasonable amount of time before sending a polite note. If audio cuts out, acknowledge it quickly and reset. If you are doing a one-way recorded screening instead of a live interview, the same rules apply: prepare, speak clearly, and treat the exercise with the same seriousness as a live conversation. A remote interview still comes down to your skills, experience, and how well you connect your background to the company’s needs. The difference is that you also need to control the format. Candidates who prepare for both the content and the environment usually come across as more polished, more credible, and more ready to contribute from day one. Further Guidance & Tools - Video Setup: Zoom Support offers practical help for testing audio, camera settings, and meeting readiness before an interview. - Platform Practice: Microsoft Support can help you prepare for Teams-based interviews and troubleshoot common meeting issues quickly. - Employer Research: LinkedIn is useful for reviewing interviewer backgrounds, company updates, and role-related context before the conversation. - Interview Prep: Indeed Career Guide provides practical interview preparation advice, common questions, and answer strategies for many job types. - Executive Insight: Harvard Business Review regularly publishes thoughtful guidance on communication, executive presence, and professional credibility. Next Steps - Research: Review the company, the role, and the interviewer lineup so your answers sound specific, informed, and aligned with the opportunity. - Rehearse: Test your platform, lighting, sound, camera angle, and internet with a practice call before interview day. - Prepare: Set up a quiet space, organize brief notes, silence notifications, and log in early enough to avoid preventable stress. - Deliver: Answer clearly, pause when needed, maintain steady eye contact, and stay calm if the technology does not cooperate perfectly. - Follow Up: Send a concise thank-you message that reinforces your interest and briefly reminds the interviewer of your strongest fit. Final Words Remote interviews reward candidates who think ahead. Strong preparation is not just about memorizing answers. It is about removing distractions, managing the technology, presenting yourself well on screen, and staying composed if something goes wrong. When you handle both the conversation and the format professionally, you make it easier for interviewers to picture you succeeding in the role and working effectively from day one. Additional Resources Read the full article
